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High Desert and Prehistoric Peaks
A three-state journey across the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau. This route bridges California’s high desert with Nevada’s mining heritage and Utah’s fossil-rich landscapes, following the corridors of US-95 and US-6.
3days
11stops
1442km
Day 1: Palmdale City Hall → … → Mizpah Hotel
5h 7min · 520km4 stops
Palmdale City Hall
09:00-10:48
56min · 94km
Red Rock Canyon
11:42-13:30
4h 9min · 426km
Tonopah Historic Mining Park
14:24-16:12
2min · 0.9km
Mizpah Hotel
16:12-18:00
Day 2: Tonopah Station → Cathedral Gorge → Cedar City Main Street
3h 8min · 334km3 stops
Tonopah Station
09:00 – 11:00
3min · 1.6km
Cathedral Gorge
12:00 – 14:00
3h 5min · 333km
Cedar City Main Street
15:00 – 17:00
Day 3: Utah Shakespeare Festival Gro… → … → Vernal City Center
6h 4min · 588km4 stops
Utah Shakespeare Festival Grounds
09:00-10:48
1min · 0.4km
USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum
11:42-13:30
3h 34min · 377km
Quarry Exhibit Hall
14:24-16:12
2h 29min · 210km
Vernal City Center
16:12-18:00
Heads Up
- 1. Fuel stops are sparse between Tonopah and Cedar City; ensure your tank is full before leaving town.
- 2. Verify seasonal hours for the Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Monument.
- 3. Check for high wind advisories when driving through the Mojave and Great Basin stretches.
- 4. Day 1: 5h 8m driving — plan rest stops
- 5. Day 3: 6h 34m driving — plan rest stops